Thread: General Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
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Old 03-04-2014, 14:34   #1866
OLD BOY
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Re: Coming soon to Virgin TV 2014
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichardCoulter View Post
Whatever ones views on how efficiently the BBC is run, the fact remains that public money is being used to subsidise a TV channel opened by a rich family at a time of austerity.

They were free to open a TV channel previous to this, subject to securing capacity, like anyone else.
Well, on the first point, the Government is making this money available because it wants to see more local programming. The fact that they have been able to do this without using additional public money is a plus, surely.

As for the issue about rich people making use of that money to provide what is needed, I really don't see what the issue is. As long as they provide what the Government procures, what does it matter that it is a 'rich family' providing the service? Who else is going to do it? You need money to embark on ventures such as these.

In respect of the subsidy, nothing would have happened without it. This kick start might be all it needs to ensure a vibrant network of local channels. However, I do think that there is a high risk that most of these channels will fold because unless sufficient money is put into them on a consistent basis to ensure good journalism and access to programmes people actually want to watch, the limited audience will lead to limited income from advertising. That will result in rubbish programmes and BARB audience figures that are so small they don't register.

---------- Post added at 13:34 ---------- Previous post was at 13:32 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by toady View Post
Doesn't pooling programming for a group of local TV channels defeat the object of local channels?

The budgets and audience are not big enough to support these local channels, I'm expecting these to fail and die over the next couple of years and in the meantime they will will be full of mediocre content
There is no reason at all why programmes cannot be pooled across the UK to support the local programming - that's what will bring in the money, I'd have thought.

If it's just boring stuff day and night, who on Earth is going to watch it?
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